Kotaku Monday, December 13, 2021 1:25 PM  Earlier this year, documentary group People Make Games reported that game creation platform Roblox was deceiving some of its young users. Roblox allows users to monetize their creations, but very few become popular enough to make the time investment worthwhile. All the while, Roblox promises users riches and fame if… |
Kotaku Monday, December 13, 2021 1:00 PM  Hot off the heels of last week's announcement about Grand Theft Auto Online's next major update, Rockstar has provided details on what new and old music is coming to the game to accompany the fresh story content. As part of an upcoming update, titled The Contract, GTA Online will see one brand-new radio station, while… |
Kotaku Monday, December 13, 2021 11:25 AM  You may have heard that Halo Infinite is a terrific first-person shooter, a solid return-to-form for an old Xbox series. What you might not know is that Halo Infinite is also really freakin' funny. And nowhere is that more true than in the one-liners fired off by grunts, the lowest-ranked cannon fodder you encounter… |
Kotaku Monday, December 13, 2021 11:00 AM  The Analogue Pocket is the ultimate Game Boy. It can play nearly any Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance game, on a bright and colorful LCD with 10 times the resolution of the original Nintendo handheld, sound piping through a pair of superb stereo speakers. That's just for starters. |
Kotaku Monday, December 13, 2021 9:55 AM  Sony revealed today that a year after launch, the PlayStation 5 is finally getting color swaps for its giant plastic covers. There are five new variants in total, and new DualSense controllers to match, set for a global launch starting in January 2022. Hopefully they don't suffer from the same shortages as the new-gen… |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 2:35 PM  When I went to space, I learned that yeast comes from thistles. I also learned that if you stand still for five seconds, bears will show up and attack you. I preferred the first lesson. Fortunately, your employer, the United Development Agency, has furnished you with a protective spacesuit for your arrival on Icarus, a terraformed celestial body that's rich with natural resources. Unfortunately, it can only stand up to a couple of swipes from a bear before you're left unconscious and bleeding out like a stuck pig. Criminal negligence, exploitation, and faceless corporations are par for the course in space games, but the UDA isn't interested in anything nefarious aside from harvesting as many exotic materials from Icarus as it possibly can. The company just wants you to survive on the planet for long enough to realise its goals, and if you can't, then its losses ought to be minimal. Your first few tasks will be familiar if you've played a few survival games before: craft some rudimentary tools, harvest some basic food, dig up some shiny rocks, and dream of the day when you can build a hovel to call your own. There's not much in the way of gimmicks on Icarus; it's just you and the planet, and the planet wants you dead. |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 12:47 PM  Spiritfarer, a cozy (after)life sim about ferrying the recently departed to their eternal rest, is ready to move on after selling more than a million copies since its launch last year. The charming management game received its final update today, along with a new complete edition. Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition is a free update for Spiritfarer, and includes all the previously released updates to Thunder Lotus' charming game. The latest, the Jackie & Daria update, is the largest of the bunch - it adds a "fun, albeit vulgar" hyena named Jackie and Daria, the erratic bat. The update also includes a new island, Overbrook, where Jackie formerly worked as a hospital caretaker. There's a new event called Mind Palace, new recipes to craft, and a beehive you can add to your station. Of course, there's plenty to get up to on Overbrook island as well, and both Jackie and Daria are sure to have their own sweetly heart wrenching stories to dig into. You'll be able to head that way after uncovering the mist near Oxbury and receiving a letter from Jackie, asking for your help. |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 12:40 PM  Dawn of Ragnarok was officially announced today, but that's not the only bit of news Ubisoft has of Assassin's Creed fans. This week, a bit of free DLC will hit both Odyssey and Valhalla, introducing a two-part story in which Kassandra and Eivor meet. Ubisoft is billing this under the title 'Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories', hinting that there are more such stories to come. Those Who Are Treasured will be the new story in Odyssey, and it will have Kassandra (or Alexios, if you chose the apparently non-canon gender) traveling to the island of Korfu. This takes place in the aftermath of the Odyssey story, though you only have to complete the game's first chapter to play the content - so fair warning if you're just starting out and are mindful of spoilers. (There's a free weekend for Odyssey running December 16-19, by the way.) Then, A Fated Encounter picks up the story in Valhalla, and features Eivor coming face-to-face with Kassandra (but not Alexios). Here, Eivor heads to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. You'll be able to get in as long as you've completed the 'A Wise Friend' quest which establishes Valka in your camp. RELATED LINKS: Assassin's Creed Valhalla review, How long is Assassin's Creed Valhalla?, Buy Assassin's Creed Valhalla |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 12:30 PM  Wondering how to beat the Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker trials? Throughout the main story of Endwalker, the new Final Fantasy XIV expansion, players face multiple challenges - including trials, tricky boss fights that require careful coordination and observation. The Endwalker expansion wraps up FFXIV's epic story, as the Warrior of Light stands against the threat of a looming catastrophe called the 'Final Days'. As they battle to stave off this threat, players go toe-to-toe with several key figures from the game's legendary saga - so if you're still making your way through the expansion, beware of spoilers for the main story below. Once you've made your way through the story, you'll be able to unlock extreme trials for Endwalker, in which you face the same bosses but with more complex fights and even better rewards. The FFXIV expansion also introduces two new jobs - if you're interested in wielding a giant scythe or protecting your teammates using powerful barriers, take a look at our FFXIV Reaper guide and FFXIV Sage guide. To help you get around, we've also got a guide to the FFXIV Endwalker Aether Currents locations. If you're ready to test your skill, here's how to defeat every boss and complete the FFXIV Endwalker trials. RELATED LINKS: FFXIV Shadowbringers review, FFXIV Gunbreaker job guide, FFXIV Dancer job guide |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 12:05 PM  Assassin's Creed Valhalla's next big DLC has been announced, after numerous leaks over the past few months. But now, it's official: Dawn of Ragnarok launches in March 2022, and Ubisoft is calling this the "most ambitious expansion in franchise history". Given the price, which hearkens back to the full expansion pack pricing of old games, it probably should be. Dawn of Ragnarok launches on March 10, 2022 for $39.99 / £34.99. You will play as Odin, equipped with a range of divine powers to defend the dwarven kingdom of Svartalfheim. Baldr - Odin's son - has been imprisoned by the fire giant Surtr, so you'll have some personal stakes to push you through the story, too. As always, Ubisoft has some incentives to get you to purchase early. Pre-orders will get you immediate access to the Twilight Pack, which includes a range of appropriately-apocalyptic looking cosmetics, including a fiery look for Synin and what appears to be a flaming wolf mount. (It doesn't look like it's actually Fenrir, though.) RELATED LINKS: Assassin's Creed Valhalla review, How long is Assassin's Creed Valhalla?, Buy Assassin's Creed Valhalla |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 11:59 AM  Intel hasn't shipped stock coolers with its unlocked 'K' series processors for several years now, a trend that's continued with its current line up of Alder Lake-K CPUs. However, recent leaks suggest the company will launch a new 'Laminar' series of stock air coolers with its upcoming Alder Lake-S chips. Twitter user Ayxerious first spotted these coolers back in September, but questioned whether the images are real. It's still worth taking the leak with a pinch of salt until Intel makes an official announcement, but they're increasingly looking legitimate as Momomo_us weighs in with a new product photo. It appears that Intel will release three coolers alongside new Alder Lake processors, with Core i3, i5, and i7 chips arriving bundled with the Laminar RM1. Unfortunately, there's been no further confirmation whether the company will release the RH1 and RS1 coolers, which are designed for the Core i9 and Pentium/Celeron CPUs, respectively. RELATED LINKS: Intel Core i9 9900K review, Intel Core i7 9700K review, Best CPU for gaming |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 11:54 AM  Update - December 13, 2021: The deal ends tomorrow, so now's your last chance to grab the game for free. Original story follows. City-building games continue to be prolific well past the heyday of SimCity, as the continued success of games like Anno 1800 can attest. Now, Ubisoft is giving you an excuse to dive into the historical series' back catalogue, as Anno 1404 is now free-to-keep for a limited time. You can grab Anno 1404 History Edition via Ubisoft from now until December 14 at 6am PST / 9am EST / 2pm GMT. Once it's claimed, it'll be in your Ubisoft Connect library forever, just as with any digital game you might purchase. (You can pick up Anno 1404 at a 50% discount right now on Steam, but that version still activates through the Ubisoft client.) The History Edition of Anno 1404 was released in 2020 as part of the Anno History Collection, which gently updated the original games to run on modern PCs at current resolutions. Anno 1404 History Edition includes both the base game and the Venice expansion, which adds multiplayer options as well as a host of additional content. |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 11:36 AM  While GTA Online offers plenty of action-packed highlights, my favourite moments will always be the quieter periods spent driving around listening to radio stations. Grand Theft Auto V is over eight years old, though, so the odd reshuffle or addition of music is always appreciated. Happily, Rockstar Games is adding a new radio station and updating two more when The Contract lands this week. Motomami will be co-hosted by flamenco pop artist Rosalia and will feature tracks from Caroline Polachek, Daddy Yankee, Mr Fingers, and Aventura. You're also getting the first single from Rosalia's upcoming album, tracks from Arca, and an exclusive song from Bad Gyal. The first old station set for some TLC is Radio Los Santos. You're getting tracks from Hit-Boy, Freddie Gibbs, TiaCorine, Rich the Kid, Offset, and Mozzy. There's also music from Saweetie, Future, Tyler The Creator, Kodak Black, and others. Mike Dean and Schoolboy Q are making special cameos on the station, so expect some bickering or banter. Speaking of Schoolboy Q, you'll also hear a new single from his upcoming EP Let's Get It on the station. If you fancy hearing more from the EP, keep an eye out for CircoLoco Records USB collectables. RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 11:23 AM  It seems Microsoft loves strategy games. I mean who doesn't, right? But it's not like your average RTS game gets the kind of mainstream attention that Halo or Cyberpunk gets. And yet, I recently sat down with Microsoft's general manager for portfolio planning and analysis, Matt Percy, to talk about how valued these experiences are for Xbox Game Pass for PC. Now known as PC Game Pass, the 'Netflix for games' service has certainly proven to be a very potent arrow in Microsoft's quiver, and strategy games are reportedly an important component to its success. It's not all about Forza Horizon 5 or Halo Infinite, it's about Total War: Warhammer III and Microsoft's own Age of Empires IV as well. Some fun facts about PC Game Pass: strategy games made up about 15% of the launch portfolio, with grand strategy game Imperator: Rome one of the genre's leading names on the service. Now, there are over 40 strategy games, and Percy couldn't be happier. "Strategy games have become some of the most popular titles in our portfolio," he tells us. "They're consistently in the top ten games every month and they drive as much as 20% of our monthly engagement on PC." RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 11:13 AM  2021 has been yet another fantastic year for games. No matter how you like to spend your time in digital worlds, there's been something for everyone, from explosive shooters and fantastical RPGs to the quieter, more contemplative indie titles and utterly terrifying horror adventures. And now, in partnership with online game retailer Fanatical, we're looking to hear from you, our magnificent readers, to find out what your favourite games of the year have been. Here, we're looking specifically at the best single-player experiences of 2021 – the games that hold a special place in your heart, with moments only you experienced, and all you can share are the stories of your time (or screenshots if you have them). You can get your vote in by using the widget at the bottom of the page, and everyone who votes will receive a free gift from Fanatical by entering your email – there's discount codes and even free games like Resident Evil Village and Outriders up for grabs. And if you haven't had a chance to play some of these fantastic games, check them out on Fanatical, with savings on some of our chosen favourites available until voting ends. |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:43 AM  Hot on the heels of Forspoken's appearance at the 2021 Game Awards, which revealed a Steam release date set for spring next year, we've now got a pretty chunky new look at the upcoming RPG's gameplay. A new four-minute-long clip posted by IGN shows main character Frey Holland tearing across Athia, its rugged-looking fantasy setting, battles against enemies, and some character customisation elements, giving us a flavour of what the game will bring. Kicking off with a run through a fortified stone city (that still looks under construction, with scaffolding lining its streets), the clip then offers a glimpse at the world beyond its walls. A brief view of its map doesn't give a huge amount away, but we can see what looks like a fair degree of verticality in its terrain, with Frey later shown flying and free-running down cliff paths using powers to leap and boost her way forward. We hear chatter between the character and what sounds like her sentient bracelet companion, Cuff, as she goes. Glimpses at the game's mechanics reveal what seem to be unlockable magic skills - for example, we see a level-three ability called 'Burst Shot' which flings lumps of explosive rocks at enemies. |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:32 AM  We don't have a Diablo 4 release date to mark down in our calendars just yet, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of action-RPGs out there to tempt your fancy. Undecember is one of the upcoming PC games I've got my eye on, and it's now got a swanky new trailer alongside a Steam page and release window. This one is a free-to-play hack-and-slash RPG with a dark fantasy setting. So the story goes, 12 beings of light rose from the void to share their powers and live in harmony with their descendants in a world called Traum. That peace is about to be thrown off balance by the presence of an evil god, and that's where you come in. If that doesn't put you in mind of Diablo, the core gameplay loop involves "annihilating countless enemies at once" to pluck loot from their remains so you can create new character builds for yourself. Unlike Diablo, though, there are no defined classes in Undecember. You're free to change your weapons and skills around to fit in with how you want to play - want to cast magic while using a bow? Go for it. Builds will be influenced by strength, dexterity, and intelligence, so you've got something to look out for when you pick up your loot aside from basic power. RELATED LINKS: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 gameplay, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:24 AM  Halo Infinite's surprise multiplayer announcement means players can now access the FPS game for free, before the game's full campaign release in December. Fortunately, your progress carries over at release, so you'll be able to continue to climb the Halo Infinite ranks without starting over again. The way progression works in Halo multiplayer has changed quite drastically from the previous games. Instead of working your way up the ranks by earning XP, this time you need to rank up through the Halo Infinite battle pass, which some players are calling too grindy though the battle pass has since become easier to grind. Instead of earning XP directly from matches, the experience earned from daily, weekly, and ultimate challenges goes towards the battle pass to progress through the 100 tiers and earn rewards. Currently, you can access all Season 1 content including maps, core modes, Academy features, and the battle pass. You also have access to Ranked Arena, where you can start playing ranked matches in modes: Slayer, Capture the Flag, Oddball, and Strongholds. Here's how the ranking system works in Halo Infinite. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:19 AM  Want to know more about the Halo Infinite battle pass? Each season of Halo Infinite comes with a brand new battle pass filled with cosmetic items to customise your spartan. The Halo Infinite multiplayer beta contains the Season 1 battle pass, stocked with over 160 items. Don't worry if you don't have enough time to complete the pass; Halo Infinite battle passes don't expire, giving you all the time you need to unlock every tier. The Season 1 battle pass features 100 tiers across its free and premium tracks, though the free rewards aren't particularly exciting - Challenge Swap Tokens may be helpful at times, but they aren't fun. If you want any of the fancy cosmetics to customise your spartan armour, you're going to have to pay for the pass. The premium track contains a number of classic spartan helmets, armour cores to paint your suit, and coloured visors to customise your look. Here's everything you need to know about the Halo Infinite battle pass, including which cosmetics are unlockable, what challenges could pop up, and more. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:14 AM  Searching for Spartan Cores in Halo Infinite? Master Chief's foray into the open world of Zeta Halo introduces RPG mechanics to the series. For the first time in a Halo game, players can upgrade Master Chief's Spartan armour using the Spartan Cores spread across the map. There are upgradeable abilities acquired during the early hours of the campaign - check out our latest guide to find out how long the Halo Infinite campaign is. You might find Spartan Cores on your travels, but the most reliable way to collect them is to capture forward operating bases, also known as FOBs. The map reveals every hidden item in the surrounding area once you take over an enemy outpost. Remember, you don't need to capture an FOB to claim Spartan Cores - skip out the hard part by going directly to the cores. There are plenty of Halo Infinite collectibles, including unlockable Halo Infinite skulls, multiplayer skins, and audio logs. Don't worry if you are unsure about what suit upgrades to pick, we'll break down the best abilities and explain what makes them must-haves. Here are the Spartan Core locations in Halo Infinite. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 9:55 AM  Want to know how long Halo Infinite is? 343 Industries has made some big changes to the single-player campaign in this FPS game. Unlike the linear, mission-based campaigns in previous Halo games, Halo Infinite features an open world, RPG mechanics, and a grappleshot to traverse the environment. After the negative reaction to the campaign demo in July 2020, Halo Infinite was delayed until 2021 to give the game some much needed polish. This is also the reason Halo Infinite's campaign doesn't feature co-op at launch, another first for the series. The devs have confirmed that they plan on launching the co-op campaign during Season 2 - this means players may have to wait until May 2022 to fight against the Banished with their friends. It's not all bad news though, as Halo Infinite's free-to-play multiplayer mode was released ahead of time as an open beta, to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary. This is the biggest shake up to the Halo formula in some time, but does the Halo Infinite campaign length suffer as a result? Here's how long it takes to get through Halo Infinite. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 9:36 AM  Want to know about every boss in Halo Infinite? Zeta Halo is full of powerful enemies who desperately want to take down Master Chief - fortunately, there are plenty of weapons and explosive tanks to stop any foe in their tracks. If you thought the grunt enemies in Halo Infinite were tough, these destructive bosses should give you a run for your money. Halo Infinite's campaign forces you to fight against a set number of bosses, however, there are high value targets spread across the map which you can seek out at any time. These mini-boss targets are side missions and don't progress the story, but you can unlock unique weapon variants to spawn at any of your bases. Unsurprisingly, this guide contains major spoilers for Halo Infinite. If you're using this guide to work out how long you have left in the game, you may want to read our how long is Halo Infinite guide which breaks down the length of the campaign. Here's every Halo Infinite boss and what you need to defeat them. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 9:28 AM  As fast as the best SSDs for gaming are at quickly getting you back into the best PC games, they still can't best the Xbox Series consoles and PS5's ability to jump right back into a game right where you left off. However, the Steam Deck's 'Fast Suspend / Resume' feature could be just what gaming PCs have been waiting for, taking just "a second or two" to get you back into the action. According to Peter "Durante" Thoman, the Steam Deck's "suspend / resume got way faster in the last system update. It's now literally a second or two". When asked how stable the feature is, Durante transparently replied that while they're "not running the tests you'd need to do (i.e. suspending/resuming 100s of games all the time), I can say that since the update that made it fast, it has worked 100% of the time for me". They also observed "how generally, 'better' (Windows) ports run much better in Proton on Deck, even if they are more demanding games", citing that Valkyria Chronicles 4 runs "perfectly" with super sampling set to 150%. RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 10:20 AM  What are the best crime games on PC? Videogames are, and have always been, all about fulfilling a fantasy. We step into virtual worlds to fight evil, slay monsters, grab sweet loot, or go to war online. They're a chance to do something we wouldn't usually do - and that includes crime games. With that in mind, games that focus on crime are popular for that very reason - they're (hopefully) not something you'd attempt in real life. Ever since RPG game Grand Theft Auto challenged players to earn as many Wanted stars as possible, gamers have been pushing the limits of reckless behaviour and general naughtiness. With that in mind, we've put together our list of the best crime games like GTA you can play - and we reckon at least one of them is sure to make you an offer you can't refuse. Between modern-day crime epics, online heists, fisticuffs in faraway places, and a trip back in time to criminal empires of yesteryear, we've got a little something for everyone. RELATED LINKS: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 8:02 AM  If you were hoping that Final Fantasy XIV would quieten down after Endwalker's release, then you're out of luck, pal. The MMORPG's latest expansion entered early access on December 2 before fully releasing on December 7. It's been close to a week since and those login queues aren't getting shorter just yet. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida offered another update on server congestion over the weekend, apologising for the inconvenience caused. Yoshida explains that peak numbers from the weekend just gone were slightly lower than the one prior. However, queues are technically getting larger due to the team fixing login errors and raising the login queue cap. It looks like players are adapting to the server congestion by logging in during quieter periods, though, so that might help you out. I find that joining the login queue during work hours - sorry, editors - means the game is good to go by the time I clock off. While the team is steadily fixing login errors, FFXIV error 2002 remains the most prominent. Yoshida explains that it was previously prevalent as it could occur if a login queue exceeded 17,000 players. The team has managed to raise the login cap, which has eased the issue, but the error can also occur due to the strength of your internet connection. The team doesn't have a fix just yet, though Yoshida recommends using a hard-wired internet connection if you can. RELATED LINKS: FFXIV Shadowbringers review, FFXIV Gunbreaker job guide, FFXIV Dancer job guide |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 8:00 AM  Want to know more about the character customisation options in Halo Infinite? Unlike the other entries in the Halo series, Halo Infinite's multiplayer mode is free to play on Xbox and PC. The devs have decided to take the same approach as some of the most popular battle royale games, focusing on cosmetics to bring in money rather than relying on game sales. As a result, you can expect to find many character customisation options in Halo Infinite when the game officially launches later this year. You can acquire new items to customise your spartan armour through the Halo Infinite battle pass system. Battle passes typically have an end date in most games, but that won't be the case in Halo Infinite as they're permanent. Customising your spartan armour has always been part of the Halo games, but these systems pale in comparison to what's in Halo Infinite. There's even a ton of Halo Infinite multiplayer skins in the campaign to unlock. Everything from helmets, shoulder pads, and even knee pads you can be alter and equipped this time around. Here's everything you need to know about the character customisation options in Halo Infinite, including what pieces of armour you can change, what armour cores are, and more. RELATED LINKS: Halo Infinite release date, Halo Infinite system requirements, Halo Infinite ranks |
PCGamesN Monday, December 13, 2021 8:01 AM  The best computer speakers aren't intrinsic to every gaming PC setup, especially since the best gaming headsets can give you the edge in FPS games. Of course, injecting your ears with gaming sounds comes with the caveat of being tethered to a desk. And while the best wireless gaming headsets can provide you with a degree of freedom, there's nothing quite like filling your gaming cave with high fidelity audio. Speakers are commonplace within many of the best gaming monitors and laptops, but convenience usually comes with compromise. While integrated speaks work just fine, they often produce tinny audio and a distinct lack of clarity and definition in comparison to good quality, standalone computer speakers. Naturally, there are a wide range of specs and price points to consider when it comes to computer speaker sets. Whether you're looking for a cheap set of speakers, the best soundbar, a surround sound extravaganza, or you're looking to upgrade to true audiophile sound quality, we've rounded up the top speakers to sit on the best gaming desk. There are even some with RGB lighting if that's your bag. RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 1:43 PM  As someone with bipolar, I have often wondered why sinking several hours into something soothing such as Shovel Knight does so much for my soul. However I recently read that Geek Therapy, a non-profit advocating the use of video games for wellness, promote using world-building games such as Minecraft, Roblox, Animal Crossing, and Fortnite to help people deal with mental health issues. While play therapy has long promoted the therapeutic powers of escapism to imaginary worlds, it is more recently that thought has gone into how these online experiences can be used to combat my, I mean someone's, anxiety and depression. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 12:29 PM  If you've not yet enjoyed the splendid real-time tactical squad action of Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun, here's your chance. GOG started their Winter Sale today, and for the first 48 hours they're offering Shadow Tactics free for keepsies. They plan to give more games away free later in the sale. Also they have discounts and things. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 12:19 PM  Intel's latest 12th Gen Alder Lake processors include some of the best gaming CPUs money can buy, and they're not just a big step forward on pure power. They also add support for some new and up-and-coming technologies that that could form the bedrock for even better performance in the future, like PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM. In fact, when buying a new, Alder Lake-compatible motherboard, you'll have a choice to make: stick with DDR4 memory, or upgrade to DDR5? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 12:07 PM  Activision Blizzard employees are becoming increasingly frustrated with the company, holding walkouts in the wake of damning reports and layoffs. It's reached a point where ABK employees are organising a formal strike, and there's been talk of unionisation - talk that ActiBlizz would like to stop. In an internal email, chief administrative officer Brian Bulatao discourages staff from signing an agreement with the Communications Workers of America union (CWA) - because "active, transparent dialogue between leaders and employees" is better than unionisation, apparently. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 12:00 PM  Fights In Tight Spaces is about one specific trope that all the spy movies I've seen love to use: our main character's got to a part in the story where they can relax a bit, inevitably they let their guard down, and on cue, a mystery assassin erupts from the shadows to take advantage of the opportunity. The hero's got nothing but their brawn to make it out, but then, surprise! They actually use brains instead. Nobody ever saw it coming. The thing is, watching those movies, we all know the main character's not really going to die. I mean, it's called The Bourne Identity. There'd be no movie without a Bourne! (The Jeremy Renner one doesn't count.) Instead of non-stop fast and frenetic action, Fights In Tight Spaces goes for a different approach, and dissects those same action sequences into a turn-based battle. Rather than the scene being a choreographed piece of stunt and camera work that's over in a matter of seconds, it's a roguelike deckbuilder that puts the player in charge of every minute decision an action hero would have to make in one of those situations. Which means, if that untouchable main character dies at any point, it was because of what you did. Most of the time anyway. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 9:51 AM  Have you ever wanted to dress up two of the most treacherous Dragon Age: Inquisition companions as Christmas dorks? Well, now you can! A modder has made Christmas-themed outfits for Blackwall and Solas, turning them into Santa Claus and his little elven helper. That's right, you can now dress up a literal God and potential big bad of the future Dragon Age games as a merry red and green-clad lad. It's what he deserves. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 8:30 AM  I usually don't like comparing games when I review them, but I have a funny feeling I'm not the only one that was reminded of other moody puzzle-platformers when I first saw White Shadows. It's a game that features a monotone colour pallette, a dystopian setting, an incredibly abstract story and the first few minutes had me pushing around boxes to get past obstacles, so yes, it will remind you of Playdead's Limbo or Inside. White Shadows gets close to growing its own wings and taking off, thanks to an incredible emphasis on musical sections and cinematic presentation. Sadly, some uninspired puzzles and an incoherent final act clip its wings before it gets to soar. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, December 13, 2021 8:25 AM  Later today, Ubisoft will announce something new for Assassin's Creed Valhalla. They're not yet saying what it is but because Ubisoft either can't or won't keep a secret, leaks have sprung up. According to supposed screenshots and store info, it's an expansion named Dawn Of Ragnarok with a lot of fantasy fanciness, journeying into Norse legend with Odin and dwarves and giants and that. Update: Yup, it's official. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 1:30 PM Today, developer Stray Bombay announced that its upcoming co-op sc-fi shooter, The Anacrusis, will be launching on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on Jan. 13, 2022. The news comes by way of a brand new devblog that went live on Youtube earlier today. Feel free to check out said footage down below: Clocking […] The post Left 4 Dead-esque FPS The Anacrusis Comes to PC & Xbox Next Month appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 1:09 PM Assassin's Creed is now over a decade old as a franchise and its lore allows a number of crazy things to happen as the series plays around with history — including a crossover between AC Valhalla and Odyssey. Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories will bring Eivor and Kassandra together in free DLC quests that will be […] The post Assassin's Creed Crossover Stories Bring Kassandra & Eivor Together appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 12:50 PM Third-party developers provided new assets and development updates about upcoming add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The post Microsoft Flight Simulator F-35, FlyByWire Airbus A320, & Molde Airport Get New Screenshots & Video; Grumman Goose Announced appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 11:47 AM Today Pearl Abyss released a new video showcasing the unboxing of the upcoming Black Desert figure portraying the Dark Knight. The post Black Desert's Gorgeous Dark Knight Figure Shines in Unboxing Video appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 11:44 AM Thunder Lotus' Spiritfarer has now sold 1 million units, the developer has announced today. The news coincides with the launch of the game's Farewell edition, which compiles the base game and all the additional content released to date, including the new Jackie and Daria Update, which has been added to the game today. "All good things […] The post Spiritfarer Sales Hit 1 Million Ahead of Farewell Edition Launch appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 11:37 AM Genshin Impact and Pokemon are two of the most beloved franchises in the entertainment industry currently, as fans can't get enough of each of these franchise's characters, locations, and lore. In fact, one fan loves each of them so much that they actually went out of their way to combine them into an adorable crossover. […] The post Genshin Impact Fan Creates Inazuma Pokemon Characters in an Adorable Crossover appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 11:05 AM Following the first reveal earlier today, Nexon released another trailer of its fighting game DNF Duel, focusing on the hitman. The post DNF Duel by Arc System Works Gets Extended Trailer Showing the Hitman in Action appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 11:04 AM As it tends to do with its most popular Manga, Shonen Jump recently conducted another Jujutsu Kaisen popularity poll with its viewers to see where its characters ranked in their hearts. For the most part, the characters that have made up the top 10 haven't changed all too much, but their order may come as […] The post Megumi Ranks #1 in the Second Jujutsu Kaisen Popularity Poll appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 10:55 AM Valorant's biggest esports event of the year, Champions Berlin, concluded over the weekend with a grand final showdown between two European teams that yielded record viewership for the game. During Acend's five-map thriller versus Gambit, concurrent viewership across Twitch and YouTube peaked at 1,089,068, according to escharts. Acend ended up beating Gambit to lift the […] The post Valorant Champions Esport Event Broke 1 Million Concurrent Viewers appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 10:18 AM Avex revealed the first screenshots and the synopsis of the eleventh episode of the ongoing Muv-Luv Alternative anime series. The post Muv-Luv Alternative Anime Episode 11 First Screenshots & Details Revealed appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 9:42 AM PlayStation has today announced the much-anticipated colored console covers for its PS5 hardware, which allow players to customize the appearance of their machine with four different color options: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. Also, the publisher has unveiled matching DualSense controller options, adding the same colors to the previously released Cosmic Red and […] The post PS5 Console Covers & New Colored DualSense Controllers Coming in January appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 9:41 AM Sega revealed the last pair of playable characters that will be added for free to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles. The post Demon Slayer Shows Free Playable Enmu and Yushiro & Tamayo With New Trailers & Screenshots appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, December 13, 2021 9:14 AM The NPD Group's monthly report tracking spending across the US video game industry is out for November, which for the instance in some time reveals a year-on-year decline in consumer spend across the games industry. Still, the battle for software's top-seller in what is typically the year's biggest month raged as usual, and this time […] The post NPD Nov: CoD Vanguard Beats Battlefield as Best-Selling Holiday Game So Far appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 2:00 PM Zankoku na Puni no Thesis! The post Yo-Kai Watch Puni Puni Evangelion Event Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 1:00 PM A Bleach Brave Souls Burn the Witch holiday event gives people a chance to celebrate Christmas with Ninny and Noel for a limited time. The post Bleach Brave Souls Burn the Witch Christmas Event Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 12:30 PM Shin Ultraman has a firm release date set, according to a new announcement by Tsuburaya. The post Evangelion Creator's Shin Ultraman Opens in May 2022 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 12:00 PM A number of staff members are returning for the new project which does not yet have a release date. The post Gridman x Dynazenon Film Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 11:30 AM Vira will join Granblue Fantasy Versus as DLC this week, and Avatar Belial and Lunalu will also be appearing alongside her. The post Granblue Fantasy Versus Vira and Avatar Belial Appear This Week appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 11:00 AM The third of three free Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles updates will add the playable demons Enmu and Tamayo & Yushiro this week. The post Last of the Free Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles Updates Dated appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 10:30 AM There's a new Forspoken gameplay trailer, and it focuses on showing what Frey can do when journeying around Athia. The post Forspoken Gameplay Showcased in New Trailer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 10:00 AM Official PS5 faceplates are on the way, as Sony announced different color console cover plates will begin appearing in 2022. The post PS5 Console Cover Plates Will Appear in 2022 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 9:30 AM The Nintendo Switch continues to reign supreme. The post Nintendo Switch Best Selling North American Console in November 2021 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 9:00 AM The live horror experience will happen inside a themed ambulance. The post Fatal Frame Will Be Featured in Japan's Live Horror Attraction appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 8:30 AM Festive drinks and food items will be available for a limited time. The post Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea Cafe to Hold Starlight Celebration Event appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, December 13, 2021 8:00 AM The last three months of the calendar will feature the ID and EN VTubers. The post Hololive Comiket 99 Merchandise Will Include 2022 Calendars appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 2:30 PM Get dungeon crawling from December 17 Following a very lengthy delay, publisher GameSpark has announced that a classic entry in... The post Wizardry: The Five Ordeals will finally arrive on Steam Early Access this week appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 2:00 PM Pokemon papercraft? Happy December "Pokemon papercraft" is not something I assumed I'd be writing about in December, but here we... The post Here are official Pokemon Dialga and Palkia papercraft models appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 1:30 PM The clock's ticking, dude Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) loves nothing more than a good teaser website. They're borderline obsessed with... The post NIS is up to its teasing tricks again with new 'pocket watch' site appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 1:00 PM Make your PlayStation feel a bit more personalized Official means of customizing the look of your PlayStation 5 are expanding... The post New PlayStation 5 covers are on the way, alongside new DualSense colors appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 12:25 PM When in doubt, go mythical for DLC Ubisoft has a long history with "going mythic" for Assassin's Creed premium DLC to... The post Assassin's Creed Valhalla isn't done yet: a major expansion is coming in 2022 appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 12:00 PM After 10,000 years I'm DLC! It's been years… years, but the big day is almost here. As of tomorrow, December... The post AHHH!! Rita Repulsa joins Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid tomorrow! appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 11:30 AM The new battle royale? "A Peter Molyneux NFT." Enough said. Now I have your attention. Announced this past weekend, Peter... The post Peter Molyneux is still around, and he's making a blockchain/NFT game appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 11:00 AM Here's a hands-on look If you haven't heard of Analogue before, and are a fan of retro gaming, you definitely... The post Review: The Analogue Pocket is yet another triumph for game preservation appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 10:23 AM It's 500 Platinum My Nintendo Europe, who sometimes passes over rewards to other regions, just got a Metroid Dread pin... The post My Nintendo Europe just got a Metroid Dread pin set appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 10:00 AM The phantom of the omnia is here Publisher Rocket Panda, in association with developer MAGES, is super excited to announce... The post Phantom Breaker: Omnia brings anime fightin' action westward March 2022 appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 9:30 AM The 'Brack letter' (that term didn't age well!) is nearly three years old [Update: The new Heroes of the Storm patch is... The post Heroes of the Storm just got a new patch, and I hope it continues to stick around appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, December 13, 2021 9:00 AM Metroid: Other M story vibes? Remember Forspoken? I don't blame you if it passed you by, as this year has... The post Square Enix's Forspoken still looks gorgeous, but I'm worried about the narrative appeared first on Destructoid. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 13, 2021 2:30 PM  Out of all the "WORLD PREMIERE" announcements that came out of The Game Awards last week, the one from Monolith Productions ranked as among the most surprising. The studio that brought us the two excellent Middle-earth: Shadow games has shifted its lidless eye to the DC Universe. Monolith and Warner Bros. Games have announced an open-world Wonder Woman game, and brought a teaser trailer along for your viewing pleasure. The Wonder Woman game certainly has Monolith's fingerprint firmly planted. It's an open-world game, and set to use the developer's patented Nemesis System. Naturally, this means that Wonder Woman will have an ability to bring enemies to her side as allies. No doubt there will be some kind of outposts, a la Mordor, in which you take over and hand off to acquired generals. The latter is more speculation, as the companies have released little info on the game so far. All we got is a tease, and the promise that our Diana, princess of T... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 13, 2021 1:45 PM  At last, Halo Infinite's multiplayer will offer more playlists following an update tomorrow, December 14. Players have been clamoring for more options since the beta launched. The Area playlist mixes up modes like Slayer and Oddball, without offering a chance to choose. That changes soon, however. Halo Infinite will receive a playlist update with Slayer types like FFA and Tactical Slayer. The return of the Slayer playlist should make a lot of Halo Infinite players happy. I do find Oddball to be more enjoyable than ever, and Capture the Flag is a classic. But I've been a Slayer player for nearly two decades, and I can't wait to just do some good ol' fashioned slayin'. There will be four Slayer playlists in all: Slayer (Team Slayer, I believe), Fiesta, FFA (free for all), and Tactical Slayer (SWAT). And Slayer is just the beginning in regards to playlists. "As I noted last week, the team's original plans for a Slayer playlist included a... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 13, 2021 12:30 PM  I wrote off Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon a while ago. I love Tetris, but I don't tend to play any other "match the blocks with other blocks" games. But I misunderstood the kind of game this was. While, yes, it is very much based around block matching, it does this in a completely unique way. It's much of an action game as it is a puzzle game, while also giving players something they've never quite seen before. It might not keep everyone busy for a long time, but this is a hectic, inviting time. The basic gist of Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is that Shovel Knight has been pulled into the titular locale and the Puzzle Knight has asked him to assist with getting everybody out of it. There isn't really much plot beyond the intro and outros, but the game does have a true ending route that adds an extra level and tough additional boss fights. You can also just beat the default final boss and get the basic ending. Getting the true ending is quite the cha... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 13, 2021 12:30 PM  The launch of Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific has introduced a brand new map. If you enjoy sniping, Caldera is the perfect place to show off your skills. And with the best attachments, you can build a Kar98k class that really packs a punch in Warzone Pacific. For a long time the Modern Warfare Kar98k and the Black Ops Cold War Swiss K31 have been the most dominant sniper rifles in the game. However, they were recently nerfed, leaving fans searching for an alternative. This class will focus on improving the accuracy and mobility of the Vanguard Kar98k to make it your new favorite sniper rifle. Call of Duty: Warzone Pacific Kar98k class Muzzle: Scout Silencer Barrel: VDD RE02K Underbarrel: M1930 Strife Angled Rear Grip: Fabric Grip Stock: Short Stock Ammunition Type: Lengthened Perk 1: Shrouded Perk 2: Deep Breath Optic: K98 Scout 10.0x Telescopic The first attachment this class uses is the Scout Silencer muzzle. With added sound suppression, your shots will stay hidden from th... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, December 13, 2021 11:00 AM  With 128-player lobbies being playable in Battlefield 2042, there are opportunities for some epic kill feeds. Most guns can only get three or four kills before reloading, though due to their limited magazine size. But this is not a problem for a light machine gun. Of the light machine guns in Battlefield 2042, the PKP-BP stands clear at the top. With the right build, this beast can mow down entire squads before they can even react. Note: For more information about EA's FPS, check out our Battlefield 2042 guides and features hub. Battlefield 2042 best PKP-BP Loadout Sight: XDR Holo Ammunition: High-Power/Extended Underbarrel: Factory Mounts Barrel: Warhawk Compensator Secondary Weapon: M44 Gadget: Recoilless M5 Throwable: Frag Grenade The PKP-BP has an unusual recoil spray pattern. It starts off very inaccurate, but quickly becomes laser precise. This makes it an outstanding weapon at long range, as it has great damage and is easy to control even at extreme distances. To tak... |
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Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, December 13, 2021 2:44 PM A great reason to jump back into both games. The post AC: Valhalla And Odyssey Getting Crossover Tomorrow appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, December 13, 2021 2:04 PM I am leaning towards Purple and Blue myself. The post Official PlayStation 5 Faceplates Arrive Next Month appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Pivotal Gamers Monday, December 13, 2021 9:54 AM What is MetaMask? MetaMask is a crypto wallet & gateway to blockchain apps. It is available as a browser extension and as a mobile app. You can use it to buy, store, send and swap tokens. MetaMask equips you with a key vault, secure login, token wallet, and token exchange—everything you need to manage your digital assets. It provides the simplest yet most secure way to connect to blockchain-ba... |
MonsterVine Monday, December 13, 2021 12:00 PM Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space continues to be a surreal and funny trip through some of TellTale's best Adventure titles. The occasional joke feels a bit dated, and the frame rate is occasionally wonky, but the consistent laughs and charming cast of characters make this another banger for Skunkape. Sam & Max: Beyond […] The post Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space Review- You Continue to Crack Me Up, Little Buddy appeared first on MonsterVine. |
Level Up Monday, December 13, 2021 12:15 PM In the year since its launch, Assassin's Creed Valhalla has proven to be one of… |
Level Up Monday, December 13, 2021 11:24 AM The Nintendo Switch has been the best-selling console in the U.S. for 35 of the… |
Level Up Monday, December 13, 2021 10:19 AM After hitting virtually all PlayStation 5 cover makers with legal threats and takedowns, Sony has… |
Level Up Monday, December 13, 2021 9:15 AM Microsoft closed Lionhead Studios, the team behind the publisher's famed Fable series, on April 29,… |